Today in Things We Don't Call Terrorism

[Content Note: Anti-choice terrorism.]

This morning in Bloomington, IN, a man was arrested after extensively vandalizing a Planned Parenthood facility with an ax and red paint:

Police arrested Benjamin D. Curell, 27, Ellettsville, said Capt. Joe Qualters of the Bloomington Police Department.

"The suspect made statements indicating the facility was targeted due to abortions being performed there," Qualters said. "He stated his intent was to damage the building because they 'kill' and 'murder' babies. He attributed his actions to his religious beliefs."

Planned Parenthood performs abortions at the facility, the organization's web site states, among other services.

The incident occurred shortly before 4 a.m., Qualters said in a release. Responding to reports of a man trying to break into the building at 421 S. College Ave., police found Currell already inside when they arrived. He was carrying an ax, Qualters said.

"Extensive damage had been done to the building and office equipment with the ax," Qualters said. "There was also red paint that had been splashed onto the building. Curell was taken into custody without incident."

Curell has done at least $2,500 worth of damage to the building, front office, and equipment, and faces "preliminary charges of burglary and criminal mischief, Class D felony." I certainly hope those will not be the only charges he faces, since his explicit confessed intent was not burglary but religiously motivated terrorism.

A Planned Parenthood official said today the incident "will not deter us from continuing our mission."

If you would like to make a donation to the Planned Parenthood Bloomington Heath Center, to support them in continuing their mission, go here.

[H/T to Amadi.]